Improvement in key-fastener



iuitd @Sisme am can.

, JAMES E. HILLS,AOF ORANGE, MASSACHUSETTS.

Letters Patent No. 90,945, lated June 8, 1869.

l IMPROVEMENT IN KEY-FASTENER.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part of the same.

To all persons vto whom these presents muy come:

Be it known that I, JAMES E. HILLS, of Orange,

of the county of Franklin, of the State Vof Massachusetts, have invented a new and useful lKey-Fastener'or safety-apparatus; and do hereby declare the the door, the apparatus being intended as a means of V safety or security, or asa preventive of the unlocking of the lock by a burglar.

' It consists- First, of a screw-nut, A, provided with two prongs or claws, a a, extended fromit, and with an interval or space, b, between them, the whole being as represented. j

Second, of a long screw, B, to screw directly or transversely through the clawed nut.

Third, of the screw-supporter C, which, as shown, consists of a plate provided with a concave-convex projection, la', or with such and a hook, e, such hook and projection being arranged in manner as shown. The screw-supporter C and the duplex-clawed nut A, I usually connect bya chain, D.

To use the apparatus, the supporter C is to be hung by its hook upon the shank of a key when the latter may be in thekey-hole and lock of a door. Thepro-A jection b' is to extend into the key-hole or the keypassage lof' the escutcheon-plate., Next the end or front of the screw B is to be inserted in the cavity or hollow d of the projectionb, andthe clawed nut is to be brought up to the shank of the key, so that such shank may be directly between the two claws. Next,

the screw should be revolved so as to advance theclaws tightly upon the handle of the key, and cause it to be held firmly between them and that surface of j the nut over which they project.

The key will thus be held so that it cannot be easily revolved by nippers applied to it at the end of the shank. f y

The projection?) aids in keeping the supporter C in place over the `key-hole, especially shouldthe supporter be unprovided withl the hook to sustain it in,

the key. The projection also prevents the supporter from being slipped laterally across the key-hole. 'lhe cavity in the plate or` projection serves to hold and support the end of the screw. f

The whole apparatus is one of special advantage to a traveller, as it becomes a lmeans of safety, enabling him to effectually secure a key in the lock of an apartment into which he may have retired for rest, or otherwise.

I claim the combination of the screw B, the duplexclawed nut A, and the screw-supporter C, the Whole to be employed with a key in manner and for the purpose as set forth.

I also claim the screw-supporter, as made with the Vitnesses:

R. H. EDDY, J. It. Snow.` 

